Previously- Chloe tells Aaron she's in love with Elly- Fay tells Aaron she's been receiving messages from Mel, Chloe's ex- Fay explains to Aaron that Chloe had to block Mel on social media after things got messy- Having already invited Mel to town, Aaron leaves her a voicemail telling her he jumped the gun- Toadie tells Sonya he is down with her friendship tree idea- Gary tells Dipi that Sheila's been on at him to convince Amy to take him back- Sheila tells Yashvi that whatever's afoot with Dipi and Gary can't be good news for anyone- Yashvi tells Shane there's something going on with Dipi and Gary- Shane asks Gary, in front of Amy, why he spent the night with Dipi

The WaterholeGary is stunned by Shane's accusation, while Amy and Sheila also look horrified.

At that moment, Dipi arrives. Gary explains that Shane knows about the night they spent together at the café while Shane was in Colac.

DIPI: It's not what you think!
GARY: I was just walking past Harold's, and I saw that Dipi needed help.
SHANE: Help?
DIPI: Yeah, after the siege. I was struggling to be there. He talked me through it.
SHANE: You couldn't talk to me about it?
DIPI: You were focused on the girls. Gary was just around. That is all.

Shane demands to know why, if that's the case, Dipi and Gary are still meeting in secret, as Yashvi witnessed today.

DIPI: That was about something else.
SHANE: Like what?!
DIPI: … A tarot reading about Gary's love- life.

Amy cringes with embarrassment, as Dipi admits she and Gary talked about Shane too.

SHANE: What about me?!
DIPI: I dunno, Shane. What could I possibly say about the man shouting at me in front of my friends?
SHANE: Dipi, that is not fair – come on!

Lassiter's LakeToadie, Sonya, Nell and Hugo are having a family picnic by the lake, to facilitate the planting of the friendship tree which Sonya is doing with Nell. Aaron turns up, and Nell explains the concept – if someone is sad, they can sit under the tree, and if someone sees them they'll come over and chat.

While Toadie takes Nell and Hugo off to fill up the watering can from the lake, Aaron remarks to Sonya about what a nice idea it is – and is the first to plonk himself under the tree and declare that everything's gone wrong! He confides in Sonya his upset about Chloe and Fay being sick, David being suspended from work, Reggie the dog being taken, and…

AARON: … this whole other thing with Chloe, but I can't even go there.
SONYA: Well, I mean, it sounds like you have a lot going on. So of course you're overwhelmed.

She suggests he may be trying to fix things that don't have a clear- cut solution; he can't do anything about Fay, Chloe or David, but he can be there to support them.

AARON: It just doesn't feel like enough, though, you know?

No 24Chloe announces to Mark and Elly that they have a ‘Code Green' situation – tomorrow is a public holiday, and Paul has asked her to organise a games day at the pub, but a staff member (‘Flaky Fiona') has called in sick and Chloe really needs help. Mark can't as he has to work on his appeal to the police disciplinary board, but he suggests Elly could help, and she readily agrees.

Aaron has come in during this, and is concerned to hear that Elly is helping Chloe.

AARON: Just the two of you together, is it?

Chloe gives him a look.

ELLY: Well, you can join us if you would like to help?
AARON: Yeah. Maybe I will.

No 32Yashvi is listening in as Shane and Dipi argue; Dipi points out that she's repeatedly asked Shane to forgive Gary, and Shane retorts that he doesn't deserve it. Yashvi interrupts, saying all this is her fault – she should never have said anything.

DIPI: No, I'm glad you did, because now I can speak freely.
SHANE: Oh, you couldn't do that before?!
DIPI: To be honest, Shane, I couldn't. You keep giving me reasons to hold back.
SHANE: Oh, and that's your excuse for running around with Gary, is it?
DIPI: It's not like that! At first I just felt sorry for him, because he felt bad about what he did to me. But, yeah – when we started speaking, I realised that's the first time I've been able to express myself in ages.
SHANE: Except it isn't real. He's only pretending to be your friend because he feels bad after putting you in hospital.
DIPI: So what?! You can't write someone off for one mistake. He is a really caring person. He's helped me. After the siege, he was the only one that realised something was wrong. He stayed with me, and he made me feel safe.
SHANE: Well, I'm sorry I didn't realise what was going on. I was focused on the girls. But you're okay now, so I don't get why you're still hanging around him?
DIPI: Because he's a good listener, and he doesn't judge me.
SHANE: Oh, and I do?
DIPI: The minute you disagree with something, you shut the conversation down. Just like with my tarot cards.
SHANE: Well, I don't want to sit around watching you stress over some meaningless cards!
DIPI: That's the thing! They're not meaningless – not to me! But you don't seem to get that.
SHANE: Oh, and Gary does?
DIPI: Yes, he does!

Yashvi looks miserable as she watches her parents shout at each other. Dipi stomps into the house.

The WaterholeChloe, Elly and Aaron are preparing the pub for the games day. Chloe brags about how she secured free delivery from the ‘games hire guy' (is games hire a thing?)

ELLY: What's the moral of the story?
CHLOE: Flirty banter pays off.

Aaron looks uncomfortable as Elly and Chloe indulge in just that, so drags Chloe away from Elly, ostensibly to help him put up some bunting.

CHLOE: I don't need a watchdog! It's like you don't trust me. Go away and be useful.

We cut to a woman sitting at a nearby table, drinking a glass of wine. She looks around surreptitiously at Chloe and Elly…

Lassiter's LakeShane has joined Toadie, Nell and Hugo by the lake. Toadie admits that Sheila asked him to keep an eye on Dipi and Gary.

SHANE: Why didn't you tell me that?
TOADIE: Because the idea of Dipi cheating on you with anyone is just insane.
SHANE: (…) Yeah, I know she's not cheating. Of course she's not. But I don't see why she has to hang around with Gary. What's she getting from him that's so important?
TOADIE: Why don't you ask him?
SHANE: Funny.
TOADIE: No, no, I'm serious. You and Dipi aren't communicating that well at the moment, so maybe he might be able to shed some light on it.
SHANE: I really don't want to have anything to do with him.
TOADIE: Come on, Puff. Why don't you just resist the urge to tackle him and find out what's going on? Mate, seriously, stop your sooking – just get to the bottom of it.

Sonya returns to continue with the tree- planting, and is greeted by a leg- hug from Nell.

Harold's CaféAmy is working on her laptop when Dipi comes over to talk. Amy's keen to get away, but…

No 26We cut to Gary having a conversation with Shane in the garden, over a beer. Gary explains that Dipi was looking traumatised outside Harold's and was too scared to go in alone, so he offered to help her clean the place up following the siege.

Harold's CaféDipi tells Amy how kind Gary was.

DIPI: I told him what I was afraid of… and he didn't think I was being silly. He just listened.

No 26Gary explains to Shane how Dipi said she hadn't slept since Yashvi and Kirsha were involved in the siege. The tarot reading she did really scared her, but she felt she couldn't talk to anyone about it.

GARY: Look, I know I've made another mess of things here. But I was honestly just trying to do it to help Dipi. She was just so stuck in her own head.
SHANE: I guess I haven't been much help with all of that, have I?

Harold's CaféDipi continues…

DIPI: He took my beliefs seriously. Which, Amy, I... don't really get that at home. And he only kept it secret because I begged him to. He is a good man – and he's trying really hard to earn you back.
AMY: … I know.

The WaterholeChloe treats Elly and Aaron to a round of cocktails as thanks for all their help. Meanwhile, the woman we saw earlier keeps a low profile while drinking a coffee. When Elly goes to the bar to ask for some water, the woman approaches the bar and makes small- talk with her.

WOMAN: I saw you decorating earlier. Do you work here?
ELLY: Oh, no – I was helping a friend of mine out.
WOMAN: (…) Friends – really? I just thought it was more than that.
ELLY: … I'm about to marry her brother. So she'll be my sister- in- law.
WOMAN: Oh! Sorry, my bad. Congratulations!
ELLY: Thanks.

The woman looks mildly devious as Elly walks away.

No 30Sonya has just put the kids to bed, and comes to join Toadie on the couch. He's had bad news – Andrea has asked for another psychological assessment, in a bid to put off signing custody of Hugo over to them. Toadie doesn't think she'll be successful in her request, and Sonya says they just need to be patient – it will be okay.

SONYA: And you know, if it all gets too much – there's this special tree that we can visit. And you know what? It may not solve all of our problems instantly. But at least we can be there together.

Toadie kisses her.

Harold's CaféDipi and Shane are having a heart- to- heart after closing time. She tells him that her tarot cards are more than a hobby – they're part of her spirituality.

SHANE: And I should never have pushed you to give them up. Even if they do cause a lot of heartache.
DIPI: I appreciate that, but I am gonna need a little bit more from you.
SHANE: …
DIPI: I always feel like you humour me for believing in that kind of thing. You know, the Diwali curse, auspicious days, energy fields. You just don't take it seriously.
SHANE: I can't change what I believe.
DIPI: I can't change what I believe, either! But… none of us should have to. I am just asking you to be open and engaged when I talk about spiritual matters. It's just how I communicate.
SHANE: I guess I never realised that. And I'm sorry – I will do better in the future. Is Gary a believer? Is that why you like talking to him?
DIPI: No. I mean, he's interested enough. But he's got so many problems, he'll just grasp at anything.
SHANE: Yeah, he's a wounded bird. And you love taking care of people like that. Just like I was when we first got together.
DIPI: I never saw you like that.
SHANE: You still took care of me. Just like you're taking care of Gary right now. The difference is, that he's got other people to look after him.
DIPI: You really don't like me spending time with him, do you?
SHANE: He hurt you.
DIPI: And you can't let it go?
SHANE: No, I guess that's one of the things I believe. Keep your family safe.

No 26Amy turns up to talk to Gary. She reassures him that she knows nothing happened between him and Dipi – she thinks it's sweet that he was being a good friend to her.

GARY: So I haven't stuffed anything up?
AMY: … I still love you, Gary. But we can't get back together. I mean, there hasn't been enough time. And you said you were gonna change, but I don't think you really have… I'll see you around.

Amy leaves again, just as Sheila emerges with cups of tea; she's sorry things didn't go well. A wounded Gary announces that he needs a solid life plan – he'll work any job for a hundred hours a week, just to prove to Amy that he can be the man she wants him to be. Sheila says she's with him all the way.

No 24Chloe and Aaron come in.

CHLOE: I need a sandwich. Do you need to come and watch me make it, in case I flirt with it?
AARON: Okay. I get that I went about it the wrong way today – but you need help getting over Elly.
CHLOE: Doesn't mean you can go all Jane Austen and chaperone us.
AARON: How are you meant to get over her and still hang out with her?
CHLOE: It's called faking it till you make it. And it's working. Today almost felt normal – like, how it used to be.
AARON: How about you fake it at the wedding?
CHLOE: Can we not talk about?
AARON: Do you understand how much you're hurting Mark with all of this?

But Mark has appeared at the doorway and heard the end of the conversation.

CHLOE: With stealth skills like that, you'll be a shoo- in at your tribunal!
MARK: (…) Chloe, I can't tell you how much it would mean to me to have you at the wedding. But like I've said, I don't want you to feel forced into it. If this is how you're choosing to deal with your diagnosis, then… I have to be okay with it. And Az, thanks for trying, but this isn't the way to go about it, okay?

Mark's just about to go to bed again, when Chloe says…

CHLOE: I've been a complete jerk. Of course I'll come to the wedding.
MARK: Are you serious? What about your trip?
CHLOE: I'll go another time. With different friends.

Mark is thrilled, and hugs Chloe, saying how happy that will make him and Elly – he can't wait to tell her. But Aaron and Chloe look worried.

The following morning, Chloe is about to head to work. Aaron double- checks that she's really okay about going to the wedding, especially given ‘the whole bridesmaid situation'.

CHLOE: There is no bridesmaid situation. Mark is only having one groomsman, so it'd be weird if Elly had two bridesmaids.

There's a knock at the door – it's the woman who talked to Elly at The Waterhole yesterday.

WOMAN: Hey, gorgeous. Long time, no see!

Chloe slams the door in her face! She then turns to Aaron and reveals the woman is her ex, Mel!

CHLOE: What is she doing here? How does she even know where I live?!
AARON: Uhh, yeah, that might be my fault…
CHLOE: What?!
AARON: I called her…

Lassiter's ComplexGary is outside Harold's, and asks Dipi how things went with Shane. She replies that they went pretty well; and Gary says that time will tell for him and Amy, but that he's hopeful.

DIPI: But the cards did promise good things. And, you know, you deserve it, Gary.
GARY: Perhaps you and Shane should come over and have a drink sometime, and offer me relationship advice as a team, hmm?
DIPI: Yeah… I don't think so, Gary. It's been great that you've been able to chat about things – but I think it's asking a bit much for us to hang out like normal (…) It's been really nice being able to turn to you about stuff, but really… I should've been trying to talk to my husband instead. So, I can't keep doing this. I'm sorry.
GARY: No, don't be. You need to put the person you love first.
DIPI: Good luck with Amy, though.

Dipi leaves Gary to drink his coffee.

Lassiter's LakeToadie and Sonya are back to check on the friendship tree. She reaches for the watering can, but suddenly doubles over with abdominal pains. Toadie is worried, and asks if her stomach is still sore.

SONYA: Yeah. It comes and goes.
TOADIE: I think that we should bring the specialist appointment forward.
SONYA: Well, I think that you really don't need to worry – and the doctors said it was gonna take some time for me to feel 100%.

Toadie says they should get some food, as he knows she skipped breakfast this morning. But the pain hits Sonya again, and this time it's really serious. She collapses unconscious onto the grass, and Toadie desperately tries to wake her…

TOADIE: Sonya? Wake up! Come on!

She's unresponsive, so Toadie calls for an ambulance, as the camera circles ominously overhead…

Coming up on Neighbours- Chloe accuses Mel of putting her in danger- Chloe asks Amy if anyone ever really changes- Mel has fun with David and Mark in the pub; they both declare that they like her- Following an offer of help, Terese tells Leo that she's sick of his constant attention- Mark says he doesn't believe this; Piper says she'd assumed that ‘he' had let him know- A doctor asks to talk to a worried Karl in her office about Sonya